Train-pipe coupling.



J. B. RAMER. TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 29, 19081. RENEWED JAN. 4, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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nnLUMBlA PLANOURAPH w.. WAsHlNnION. D. C`

J. B. KAMER.

TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING. APPLIUATION FILED-DEO. 29, 1908. RENEWED JAN. 4, 1911.

999,869a Patented Ag. 8, 19.11.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" nul l lll a uuml UNITED STATES JACOB B. RAMER, OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.'

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110'. 8, 1911.

Application led December 29, 1908, Serial No. 469,742. Renewed January 4, 1911. Serial No. 600,852.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JACOB B. RAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chambersburg, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train- Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and practical de vice for automatically coupling and uncoupling them.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for insuring the proper c0n tact between the meeting faces of the coupling heads and the bringing together and moving apart of the gaskets in planes transverse to the direction of movement of the heads in the coupling and uncoupling operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for effecting an interlock between the coupling heads at the moment they are brought into proper working relation to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby in the coupling or uncoupling of the heads, the air valve or valves will be automatically thrown, or in other words, opened as the heads are brought together and closed as the heads are separated.

A further obj ect of the invention is to so mount the air pipe sections immediately adjacent to the head as to admit of the necessary relative play in all' directions to allow for the coupling and uncoupling operations and also to allow for the necessary [iexure in turning curves.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure l is a plan view of a pair .of coupling heads in their operative relation to each other, showing also the mounting of one of the heads and parts connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the hanger, showing the coupling heads, etc.,

in elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 1s a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a hori- I zontal longitudinal section taken through the coupling heads in their working position. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section throughone of the heads, looking toward the presser roller which is shown in elevation. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through the hanger and the parts supported thereby. Fig. 8 is a rear face view of the same, showing the air pipe in cross section.

The coupling device of this invention embodies essentially two coperating heads l each of which is mounted on and preferably formed integrally with a pipe section 2 forming a part of the train pipe, the latter Y being of the usual construction and arrangement and not being shown. Adjacent to each head is arranged an air valve 3 of taper plug form, the same being provided at one end with a valveoperating arm 4 and the valve being normally held closed by means of a coiled spring 5 one end of which may be connected with a fixed lug while the other end is connected with the arm 4. rlhe arm is also provided with a stop shoulder I 6 which normally bears against the fixed stop 7 when the valve is closed, the tension of the spring 5 being utilized to hold the arm in a position in which the stop shoulder 6 rests against the stop 7, the valve being closed so as to prevent the passage of air through the bore of the pipe.

Each coupling -head is provided with a Haring entrance throat 8 and is also provided with a longitudinally extending tongue 9 having a beveled end or nose l0, the tongue of one of the coupling heads being adapted to find its way into the flaring entrance throat on the other head until both tongues are brought into the overlapping relation illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein, it will be observed that at one side said tongues come together on the meeting line 1l. Each of the tongues 9 is provided with a lateral port l2 which communicates with the bore 13 of the pipe with which said tongue is connected as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The meeting faces of the tongues are rabbeted as shown, to admit of the insertion of gaskets or packing rings 14 which by bearing against each other form an air-tight contact between the coupling heads thereby preventing the escape ot air at the point where the meeting faces of the tongues 9 come together.

Each ot the tongues 9 is provided in its meeting' face with a recess 15 in which is journaled a combined bearing and locking roller 1G which is adapted to travel along the meeting face of the opposite tongue and drop into a notch 17 in such meeting face thereby forming an interlock between the tongues of the coupling heads, said interlock being etliected when the two gaskets 1st are opposite and in contact with each other as shown in F ig. 5.

The coupling heads are further provided with outwardly extending tubular housings 18 normally closed at their outer ends by means of caps 19 in the form of nuts which screw upon said tubular housings as shown in Fig. 1. Within each of said housings there is mounted a slide 2() in which is journaled a presser roller 21. The slide 20 is pressed inward by means of a coiled spring 22 which is interposed between the slide and the cap or nut 19, said spring acting to urge the slide inward and force the presser roller 2l into engagement with the outer face of the adjacent tongue carried by the opposite head as clearly shown in Fie. 5. When the parts are in their working relation as shown in Fig. 5, the presser rollers 21 lie in notches 23 in the outer faces of the tongues thereby acting as additional interlocking means and being con'iplemental to the locking and bearing rollers 16, above described.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that as the coupler heads are brought into engagement with each other and as the tongues slide along into overlapping relation, the meeting faces and the gaskets of the tongues are maintained out of contact with each other until the rollers 16 drop into the notches 17 and at the same time the press-er rollers 21 drop into the recesses This occurs just when the gaskets lil are exactly opposite each other and in this way the gaskets are brought together laterally and prevented from sliding, one upon the other. 1n the same manner as the coupling heads are drawn apart, the first movement oi" the gaskets is away from each other, there being an absence of any sliding movenient upon one another. Then when the rollers move out of their recesses, they travel along the surfaces of the tongues, holding the gaskets clear and preserving the working faces ot the gaskets during both the coupling and uncoupling operation. It will thus be observed that the coupling and uncoupling is effected automatically by the coming together or separation of the cars themselves.

By reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed thatl each ot the couplin g heads is provided with a valve operating extension or flange Q4 which operates against the arm 4f of the valve to swing said arm and open the valve when the coupling heads are brought together as shown in Fig. 2. Then the heads are drawn apart, the springs 5 operate to instantly close the valves 3 to cut ott' the air. 1t is also desirable to bevel or round ott the inner corners of the heads as shown at 25 and such portions of the heads may also be provided with eX- tended flanges or wings 26 to provide broad and ample faces for the heads as they are brought together in the operation ot coupling the same.

in order to provide for the necessary tlexure and normal displacement of the heads in the coupling and uncoupling operations and in rounding curves, I provide in connection with the pipe leading to each head a bracket or hanger 27 adapted to be secured to the car body and embodying a circular frame 28 in which is mounted a swivel ring 29, t-he same being swung on dian'ietrically opposite pivots 80. Hthin the ring 29 is arranged a swivel head or sleeve 31 and this head is mounted on diametrically opposite pivots 32 which are arranged at right angles to the first-named pivots 30. 1n this way, the sleeve or head 31 is mounted on a universal joint so that it may be turned in any direction. The head is provided on its inner surface with ribs arranged at suitable intervals and lying in corresponding grooves 84 in the pipe 2 leading to the coupling head above referred to. At one side of the head a bumper or cushion spring 35 encircles the pipe 2 and is interj posed between the head or sleeve 31 and a collar 3G on the pipe, while a relief spring 37 encircles said pipe within the collar or sleeve 31 and is interposed between an internal shoulder 3S in said sleeve and a collar 39 on the pipe 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. r1`he swivel-ed head or sleeve 31 is held yieldingly in a central position by means of coiled springs 40 secured at their inner ends to said sleeve and at their outer ends to the circular portion 28 of the cylinder 27 as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. These springs serve to center and balance the swivel head 31 so as to hold the coupler head connected therewith in a substantially central position while allowing said head to swing in any direction under the influence of the opposing head coupled therewith. Thisswiveled and centering spring arrangement not only facilitates the coupling or uncoupling of the heads but also provides for the necessary tlexure required when the train is rounding a curve.

I claim 1. 1n a train pipe coupling, the combination of two coupling heads having ported lateral meeting faces, a roller carried by one head, and a. depression in the other head to receive said roller.

In a t'ain pipe coupling, the combination of two coupling heads having ported lateral meeting faces, and spring-pressed slides carrying rollers which act on the heads to press the meeting faces yieldingly together.

In a train pipe coupling, the combination of two coupling heads having ported lateral meeting faces, and spring-pressed slides operating with an inward pressure against the heads to force the meeting faces yieldingly together'.

il. In a train pipe coupling, the combination of two coupling heads having ported lateral meeting faces, and springpressed rollers for urging the meet-ing faces yieldingly together.

5. In a train pipe coupling, the combination of two coupling heads having ported lateral meeting faces, spring-pressed rollers for pressing the meet-ing faces yieldingly together, and means for restricting the inward movement of the said rollers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB B. RAMER.

IVitnesses:

GEO. T. HUMMEL, W. F. DEARDORFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

